Grading and ditching machine



- (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

C.B.TAYLOR. GRADING AND DITGHI'NG MAGHINE.

No. 499,178] PatentedJune 6., 1893..

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'3- sheetssheet 2.

(No Model.)

.0. B. TAYLOR. GRADING AND DITGHING I MACHINE,

Patented June 6, 1898.

3- Sheets-Sheej; 3.

(No Model.)

O.B'.TAYLOR. GRADING AND DITGHING MACHINE Patnted June 6-;

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of the same.

UNITED STATES CHRISTOPHER B. TAYLOR,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF IDAHO FALLs, IDAHO.

GRADING AND DITCHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 499,178, dated June 6, 1893.

7 Application filed September 21, 1892. Serial No. 446,418- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER B. TAY- LOR, of Idaho Falls, in the county of Bingham and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grading and Ditching Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact dcscription of theinvention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in grading and ditching machines; and it consists in certain improvements in details of construction tending to improve the efficiency of the device and insure its successful operation.

I have set forth hereinafter the details of construction and the essential features of my invention, and illustrated them in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my ditching and grading machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation Fig. 3 is a vertical section. Fig. 4 is a view of the rear carrier. Fig. 5 is a detail.

(1) is the main frame which is made of wood, and supported by the large driving wheels (2) and the smaller forward wheels (3), the latter being capable of swinging under the frame (1).

One of the principle features of my invention is the manner of distributing the weights so as to balance the machine. The frame (1) also carries the shaft (4) which supports the upwardly and backwardly inclined carrier (5). At the lower end of the carrier (5) is a roller (6), over which, and a roller (7) at the other end of the frame, passes the endless band 8). Secured to the inner end of the shaft 9), which carries the roller (7), is the sprocketwheel (102, which is connected to the sprocket-wheel 11) on the shaft (4) by means of the sprocket-chain (12). Secured to the endless band (8) are cross-pieces (13), the ends of which carry rollers (14). At one end of the shaft (4) is loosely secured a gear-wheel (15), the hub (16) of which is serrated. In order to cause the gear (15) to revolve with the shaft (4), I have supplied a sliding sleeve (17) which has serrations on one surface adapted to engage with the serrations on the hub (16). By

means of the lever (18) and (19), the operator who sits on the seat (20), can throw the gear (15) and consequently the carrier (5) in or out of gear as desired. To the lower forward end of the carrier (5) is detachahly pivoted the digger or scraper (21), to the lower part of which is connected the chain (22), the other end of which is secured to the rocking shaft (23). By means of the arm (24), lever (25) and connecting rod (26), the operator can raise or lower the digger (21), thus causing it to plow a shallow or a deep ditch as desired. The dirt, after-being carried up on the first carrier (5), drops upon a supplementary carrier (27), which extends at right angles from the side of the frame (1) at the rear thereof. The belt (28) is also provided with cross-pieces or retaining devices (29) for holding the dirt more securely. Passing over the sprocket-wheels (30) and (31) at the ends of the rear carrier (27) and over the sprocket-wheels (32) and (33) is the sprocket-chain (34).

In order to reverse the direction of motion of the band (28), I have constructed the novel means shown in Fig. 5 in which (35) is the main shaft which carries the driving-wheels (2). Secured to the shaft (35), are the bevelwheels (36). At the inner end of the shaft (37), which has bearing in the sliding-frame (39), I have shown a bevel-wheel (38). It will be readily seen from the drawings that by means of the wheel (40),gear-whee1s (41) and (42), rods (43) and screw (44), that the operator on the seat (20) can cause the teeth of the gear (38) to mesh with either one of the wheels (36) or throw the gearing connected with the rear carrier out of operation. Extending the entire length of the rear carrier is the rack (45), shown in Fig. 4, the teeth of which mesh with those of the pinion (46) which is rigidly secured to the rod (47), which is in turn connected to the wheel (48) by means of bevel-gears (492 and rods (50). Thus by turning the-wheel 48), the rear carrier may be extended either to the right or the left of the machine. One end of the frame (51), on which the rear carrier slides, is pivoted to the rearwardly extending rod or shaft (52), while the other end of the frame carries the are (53) and rack (54), the teeth of said rack meshing with the pinion (55) which is operated by means of the wheel (56) and connections (57) and (58). To prevent any lateral movement of the frame (51), I have constructed the rack (54) with a flange on either side as shown in Fig. 4.

It will be readily seen from the drawings and foregoing description that every movable part of the machine is adapted tobe operated from the seat thus obviating the necessity of having several persons to manipulate one machine, as is the case with former grading machines.

Another great advantage of my invention is that when the machine is being transported over roads, the entire mechanism may be thrown out of gear and thereby reducing the unnecessary wear of the working parts.-

In the drawings I have shown a peculiar and novel form of plow (21), which is a plow and scraper combined, which requires less power to operate than the ordinary style of plow, as it only turns the earth about oneeighth or just sufficient to strike the center of the main carrier. I do not confine myself to any particular form of plow or scraper, as any form can be attached to the main carrier by means of the bolts (59). The small wheels (14) at the ends of the cross-rods on the carrier belt are to prevent the belt from sagging, thus lessening the amount of friction.

By means of the rack (54:), pinion (55) and connections described above, one end of the rear carrier may be either raised or lowered,

while its other end is thereby lowered or raised.

The construction and arrangement of the several parts of my ditching machine being thus made known, the operation and the advantages of the same will, it is thought, be readily understood.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine of the class described, the

' combination of a main carrier, and a rear carrier, said carriers having endless belts on which are cross-bars, the extremities of which carry rollers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a main carrier a rear carrier, a longitudinal rack secured to said rear carrier, a pinion engaging said rack, a secondary rack secured to one end of said main carrier, and substantially at right angles to said former rack, a pinion adapted to engage with said secondary rack, and means for revolving said pinions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHRISTOPHER B. TAYLOR.

W'itnesses:

T. OLEARY, NELs O. NORD. 

